Toy engine



July 16, 1929.

a T. S. HANEY TOY ENGINE Filed June 13, 1.928

2 Sheets-Sheet July 16, 1929. T. s. HANEY l 1.721347 I TQY ENGINE Filed June 13, y192e 2 sneets-sneet 2 simulate steam pipes.

Patented July 16, 1929.

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS S. HANEY, OF GRANDVIEW, WEST VIRGINIA.

TOY ENGINE.

Application led June 13,

This invention relates to an electric motor simulating a steam engine. An object of the invention is the provision of a device exhibiting the characteristics of 5 a steam engine while being electrically driven, the boiler in this instance operating as a housing for either an electric battery or a transformer, with wires running along the exterior of the boiler in such a manner as to A further object of theinvention is the provision of an electric motor simulating a steam engine in which a movable coie operating as a piston 1s controlled in its reciprocating 15 movement by a coil periodically energized through a switch which is operatedby a cam on the crank shaft, a relatively fixed core being included in the solenoid being adjustable lengthwise of the core and cooperating with 20 the said coil for causing the piston to be drawn into the coil, and causingrotation of the crank shaft throuch a pitinan and crank.

This invention wil be best understood from a consideration of the Vfollowing detailed description, in connection with the accompanying drawings; nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications as shall define no material departure from the salient 1 features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of an electrically driven engine,

f Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of Figure 3 is a plan view of the engine Vstructed according to the principles of my i "invention,

i Figure 4 shows more or less diagrammatically a circuit which includes a solenoid. i Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1() designates a base member formed of "45, relatively stiff sheet metal and pressed to shape. A housing 11 in the shape of a boiler of a locomotive is mounted on the base inem- 'ber 1() and is provided with a smoke stack 12,

and a steam dome 13, and a fire box 14.

V and provides a chamber which is of sutlicient capacity toy receive a storage battery 15 which runs longitudinally of the boiler .having the ends provided with contacts 16 and 17 projeeting into the fire box 14.

The contacts 16 and 17 have respectively The boiler is hollow, as shown in Fig. 3, v.

1928. Serial No. 285,112.

secured thereto wires 18 and 19. Wire 19` passes through one side of the boiler 11, then upwardly through the steam dome 13 and out through the top of the same, and into a switch box 20. A wire 2l extends from the switch box across one side of the boiler and then downwardly and through an opening in the base member 10. The wireas shown in Fig. 3, is extended beneath the under face ot the base and is passed through a perforation 22 in the base member and connected with a switch element 23,01: a switch 24. The wire 1S is carried through a passage in the base member, then downwardly beneath its under face and upwardly through an opening in the magnetic material which will not be affected by the lines of force from the coil 25. AThis cylinder is provided with flanges-32 at its outerendswhich are secured to the end walls of a piston is slidably mounted in vthe brass 33 of the housing 31. A core 34`in the lform tube 30 and is adapted to operate a. pitman 35 rigidly connected with the cylinder. A relaa tively fixed core 36 inthe :Ecrin of ascrew is 4 .threaded into a boss 37v in the end member}.

33.-. A vspring coil '38 having one end `in 'ren-'11ggagement withthe' boss "37 and-its'other end in engagementwitha-finger piece 39 which l tends to place the screw in rigid contact with the threads in the boss`37 for maintaining the 1' screw in position when' once adjusted. The 2 1 screw has approximately the same cross'sec-Qf tional area as thepiston 34. The coil 25 is formed of a pair ofwires connectedto-4 I gether and osuch suitable dimensions-as to cause the core 34 to be drawn into the cylinder 30 when the coil is ener 'zedjl A crank shaft 40 is mounted in bearings 41 formed at the upper'end with standards 42 and has a crank 43 secured at 44 tothe pitman or connecting rod 35. A'pair offlywheels45`ar rigidly connected to the crank shaft 40upon` opposite sides of the4 crank 43.

A pair of guide rods 50 are secured'to the end wall 33 of the housin 31, and also to a bracket 51a. A cross hea 51 secured to the outer end of the piston 34 is provided with passages to receive the guides 50.

A casing 55 simulating a steam chest is secured to the cylinder or housing 31 and a rod 56 which represents a valve rod is rcceived within the steam chest 55 and has an eccentric ring 57 mounted on an eccentric 58 ot the shaft 40, so that when said shaft is revolved, the rod 56 will be reciprocatcd and moved in and out of the steam chest 55.

The switch 24 consists ot a fixed switch member 23 having a contact adapted to be engaged by a contact 6l ot a movable switchelement 62 hinged at ($3 to the base vmember 10. A spring member oslis rigidly connected with the movable switch element and is in normal engagement with a cam member 65 rigid with the crank shaft 40. The movable arm 62 of the switch 24 is connected by means` of a Wire (SG to a ground 67. The ground in this case forms the base member 10. A pitman is connected at 70 With a link 71 of the crank 43.

A door 75 is hingedly mounted at 76 to one edge ot' the tire box 14 and is provided with a latch 77 adapted to engage a keeper 78 4for securing the door in position. A handle 7f3 is secured to the latch 77 for operating the same. A U-shaped member 80 is secured to the, door`75 providing the keeper on the outer face of the door.

AIt will be noted that the housing 31 is mounted on a base member 81, which in turn mounted on a second base member 82 secured to the base 10. The housing 31 is mounted at such an angle that the angle ot the cylinder 3() will be inclined at a slight acute angle to the horizontal, so that the piston 3 when moved through the cylinder 30 will engage but a small portion of the cylinder to prevent excessive Wear on the cylinder. The bracket 51 is secured to the auxiliary base member 82 and extends upwardly in a vertical plane and is bifurcated at 83 to receive the pitman 35.

The operation of my device is as follows:

A switch 20 is operated to close the circuit to the solenoid including the coil 25. It may be necessary to manually rotate the ily Wheels 45. but atter this is done the momentum of the fly -Whe'els Will be sutlicient to Withdraw the piston 34 from the brass cylinder 30 when the contacts 6() and 61 have been separated and when the ,tree ends ot' the spring 64 is engaged in the reduced portion of the cam member 65. When the tly Wheels have been revolved sufficiently the cam will act on the spring arm -64 and force the contact 61 into engagement with the contact 60, thereby closing the circuit to the coil 25 which when energized will cause the piston 34 to be moved into the cylilider Zit) and tl1iougl1.tlie link 71 and crank 43 continue thc rotation ot the fly wheels. The cam member (S5 is so constructed that it will maintain the circuit closed 'for apy'uoximately one-third of the revolution of a fly Wheel.

The core 3G coming through the' lilies of force at one end of the coil and being `formed ot' sott 'iron will be temporarily magnetized and act to aid in drawing the piston 34 into the cylinder 8() and thereby increase the power for actuating" the piston 3. The threaded core 36 is adjustable in the cylinder il() and can be adjusted by the rotation of the linger piece 39 against the tension ol the spring 38. This core should be adjusted so that it will not touch the free end of the piston When the same has been moved to its limit of stroke in the cylinder. The adjustment should bc such that the greatest amount of power will be exerted on'the piston 254, and this can be. determined by inspection of the operation of the engine.

The coil Q5 consists of a pair of Wires in series and ot such diameters that they will operate the piston 34 with the least amount of current. It will be seen that the construction presents in its'entirety the appearance of a steam engine While being operated by electric current and,therefore, eliminates the danger ofthe use of steam by minors who are not capable of understanding the dangers.

I claim 1. An electric motor simulating a steam engine and comprising a housing in the shape of a boiler, a battery in the housing, a solenoid including a coil and a piston movable in the coil, a circuit including the battery and coil, a crank shaft, a fly Wheel rigid with the shaft. means connecting the piston with the crank shaft 'for causing rotation of the shaft when the solenoid is energized` andv means for causing the battery to energize the solenoid intermittently, an adjustable core cutting the lines ot force of the solenoid.

2. An electric motor simulating a steam engine and comprising a housing in the shape of a boiler. a battery in the housing. a solenoid including a coil and a piston movable in the coil, a circuit including the battery and coil` a crank shaft, a rily wheel rigid with the shaft, means connecting the piston with the crank shaft for causing rotation of the shaft when the solenoid is energized, means for causing the battery to energize the solenoid intermittently, a core having a relatively tixed position Within the coil, and being adjustably mounted so that the core may he moved towards or away from the free end of the piston.

THOMAS s. Hanny. 

